Daimler Truck and Bus Australia reckons it has pulled off a bot of a coup by securing the services of one of America’s top truck dealers. as an advisor to strengthen the company’s Australian dealer network
Dan Stevens is a just-retired Daimler Trucks dealer principal with more than 40 years experience, including 14 years as president, equity partner and chief operating officer of three major Daimler Trucks North America dealership groups. The last dealership group he led featured 25 Freightliner dealerships employing 1100 people and delivering approximately 7000 new and used vehicles per year.
Daimler Truck and Bus Australia has snapped up Stevens services to advise its dealership network with best practice methods from a market where Daimler Trucks is the clear market leader.
Mr Stevens will travel to Australia regularly and visit individual dealerships, run coaching sessions, implement continuous improvement plans, provide consulting services and provide feedback to Daimler Truck and Bus senior management.
Daimler Truck and Bus President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, said Mr Stevens will be a great asset.
“Dan has been a remarkably successful dealer for the best-selling truck brand in one of the largest heavy duty markets in the world, so he has a vast amount of knowledge to share,” he says.
Daimler Truck and Bus Aftersales and Network Development Director, Greg Lovrich, says Mr Stevens had already made an impression on Australian dealers.
“We brought Dan out to Australia to speak at a sales conference a few years ago. He was so impressive and our dealers told us his presentation was extremely valuable,” Mr Lovrich says.
“So when we had to chance to bring Dan on as an advisor and mentor, we jumped at the opportunity,” he says.
Mr Stevens says he is looking forward to spending more time with Australian Daimler Truck and Bus dealers, who look after the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Fuso and Alliance Truck Parts Brands.
“The timing couldn’t be better to engage with the Australian Daimler dealer network. Mercedes-Benz already offers the best cab-over product in the market and the release of new Freightliner and Fuso models in the next year will mean Daimler products are unsurpassed no matter what work they need to perform,” Mr Stevens says.
“The best products sold and serviced by the best dealers is a winning combination on any continent,” he says.
the company says there have been a range of exciting developments in the Australian Daimler Truck and Bus dealership network with the recent opening of a dealership at Laverton, developed at a cost of more than $30 million, and the strong take-up of the Elite Support initiative, which was first introduced in the United States.
Daimler says there are now four of its dealers that meet the elevated Elite Support certification standards in Australia and New Zealand and 15 more are currently working through the extensive certification process.
